Using Biosa™ proprietary microbial technology can help reduce composting turning costs by as much as 80% and prevent anaerobic, odor-causing decay.

The key to efficient composting is to have healthy decomposition constantly occurring throughout the pile. In all conditions, including low oxygen and anaerobic environments, Terra Biosa™ facilitates healthy decomposition and increased production of stable organic matter particles (humus). Feed stocks treated with Terra Biosa quickly develop structure and a more fluffy texture allowing oxygen to penetrate into the pile. Anaerobic pockets become aerated and the overall quality of the product is improved while reducing management time and cost. Microbial density and diversity improvements and increased nitrogen availability in composts treated with Terra Biosa™ is discussed below.

At present, the fundamental challenge composting facilities face is in properly aerating the piles. Oxygen starts to become limiting in compost piles within minutes of turning and the rising diesel and equipment costs makes turning compost the main management input. Frequent turning also exacerbates odor and dust issues, releasing ammonium and methane gases into the air and in the process losing valuable utrients and organic mass. This makes for angry neighbors, numerous flies, and a potentially disease inducing finished product.

Biosa is compatible with numerous types of commercial composting systems (ncluding in vessel systems), and can be used to effectively treat reen waste, livestock waste, food waste, and most other agricultural-industrial wastes that will be composted. Terra Biosa™ can also be used at transfer stations for safe and effective odour control.

CASE STUDY

A trial was set up to examine the benefits of Terra Biosa for a commercial aerobic windrow municipal compost operation in Helsingborg, Sweden. Lab analysis provided results that suggest the Terra Biosa™ compost was significantly more mature and stable than the control. The Terra Biosa™ compost had a C:N (Carbon to Nitrogen) ratio of 15:1 compared to a 18:1 C:N ratio for the untreated compost (control).

Furthermore, the compost treated with Terra Biosa™ contained 5 times more nitrate than the control. The NO2:NH3 ratio for the compost treated with Terra Biosa™ was 16:1 compared to 3:1 for the control. The compost treated with Terra Biosa™ more intensely cycled carbon to nitrogen and more efficiently converted organic nitrogen into nitrate. Microbial analysis onfirmed and quantified the visible increase in microbial activity. The heterotrophic, actinomycetes, and pseudomonad groups had gnificantly greater populations in the compost treated with Terra Biosa™. The microbial diversity index for the Terra Biosa™ compost was also greater than the control.

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APPLICATION GUIDELINES

The following application recommendations are guidelines to producing high quality compost with less intensive management. Contact Biosa™ for customized composting programs that will meet your goals.

Procedures:

1. Apply Terra Biosa™ as soon as the material is consolidated (or windrowed) and preferably before the material has become thermophillic (temperatures above 50 Celsius).

2. The recommended rates of Terra Biosa™ application are guidelines and may need to be adjusted for site-specific conditions and unique feedstocks. Activated Terra Biosa™ should be used for all applications due to cost savings. Please consult with Biosa™ for specific commercial composting activation instructions.

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3. Add Terra Biosa™ to the water used to hydrate the feedstock. Try to minimize runoff. The material should then be turned for an even Terra Biosa™ application. Dilution of Terra Biosa™ will vary depending on total water volume needed to attain proper moisture.

4. Turn (aerate) the compost once a month until maturity.

5. Terra Biosa™ can be applied at a low rate (1L/ton) when compost is mature to further increase microbial density and compost quality.

If you want to grow food successfully in containers, nurturing soil life can make a huge difference. Worm compost, for example, is full of microbes and life. Add it to your containers and you will get more vigorous growth, and far fewer pest and disease problems. Discovering this, was the biggest turning point in my growing (more important, even, than self watering containers), transforming sporadic successes into something more consistent.

Why is soil life important?

Healthy organic soil in the natural world supports a web of life including bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes as well as larger creatures like worms and slugs. These organisms play a vital role in the life of plants. They break down organic matter to make the nutrients available for plant roots. They condition the soil and create air spaces and tunnels in it – improving aeration and drainage. And they compete with other more harmful organisms in the soil, ones that will damage your plants if left unchecked.

Soil life is complex – so the above is just my attempt to summarise some of the main benefits you can expect when you add life to your containers!

Why do you need to add life to containers?

Most commercial composts that we buy are sterilised and low in microbial life. So is municipal compost (it has to be made at hot temperatures to kill pathogens, killing much of the beneficial life, too). So if you want life in your containers – and to mimic soil in the natural world – you need to add it.

1. Worm compost

2. Homemade compost

3. Leaf mould

4. Manure

5. Bokashi

Bokashi is Japanese method of composting food quickly in a tightly sealed bucket. Benefits of bokashi are that you can add almost any food (even meat), it works quickly, can be done in a very small space, and doesn’t smell (much). The drawbacks are that you need to buy bokashi bran for it to work, and the pickled product is not as versatile as worm compost. But you can add it to the bottom of containers to add both organic matter and microorganisms.

Mix about 10 – 20% into the compost in the bottom third of a container.